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8-K - FORM 8-K - Mercantile Bancorp, Inc. | c54724e8vk.htm |
Exhibit 99.1
MERCANTILE BANCORP ANNOUNCES ANTICIPATED
THIRD QUARTER 2009 RESULTS
THIRD QUARTER 2009 RESULTS
Quincy, IL, November 17, 2009 Mercantile Bancorp, Inc. (NYSE Amex: MBR) today reported its
anticipated results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2009. The Company anticipates an
unaudited net loss of $1.4 million or $(.16) per share for the quarter ended September 30, 2009,
compared with a net loss of $1.7 million or $(0.19) per share for the third quarter 2008. The
Company expects to report $1.69 billion of total assets at September 30, 2009, compared with $1.77
billion at December 31, 2008 and $1.75 billion at September 30, 2008. Total loans, net of allowance
for loan losses, should stand at $1.25 billion at September 30, 2009, compared with $1.32 billion
at year-end 2008 and $1.27 billion at September 30, 2008.
The Company today also announced it anticipates it will file its quarterly report on Form 10-Q with
the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission later this week. The Company had planned to file the
report yesterday, November 16. However, due to unanticipated delays in gathering information that
may impact disclosures in the quarterly report, the Company postponed the filing of the report.
Ted T. Awerkamp, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, noted that the Companys
core operations demonstrated encouraging results and relative stability year-over-year. Anticipated
total deposits of $1.43 billion at September 30, 2009, were consistent with $1.44 billion at
September 30, 2008, and down slightly compared with $1.46 billion at December 31, 2008. Third
quarter 2009 net interest income is expected to be $11.6 million compared with $11.7 million in the
third quarter of 2008. Total noninterest income estimated at $3.3 million in the third quarter of
2009 rose slightly compared with $3.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2008. Asset
management and brokerage activities are expected to be down slightly year-over-year, offset by
higher customer service fee income and gains on loan sales.
The performance of our largest subsidiary banks, Mercantile Bank and HNB Bank, continued to
reflect strength and, in some key areas, growth, said Awerkamp. We noted a number of positive
trends at these banks, including anticipated year-over-year loan and net income growth at
Mercantile Bank and expected year-over-year deposit growth at HNB, which the Company believes will
also record its best net income in three quarters.
Sound management of interest rate exposure enabled Mercantile Bank to lower its cost of funds in
each of the past six quarters, while expanding its net interest margin. Mercantile Bank expects to
record third quarter 2009 net income of $1.3 million, its highest in several quarters. Likewise,
HNB Bank has achieved consecutive quarter increases in net income since December 31, 2008, while
maintaining stability in assets, deposits and loans.
Addressing the recapitalization plan, Awerkamp explained: For several quarters, the Companys
performance has felt the negative impact of legacy loan issues at our Florida and Kansas
subsidiaries. We have taken aggressive steps to turn these banks around and are definitely seeing
positive results. With legacy loan issues identified and being managed through conclusion, this
action gives the management teams of those banks the freedom and capital adequacy to focus on a
return to profitability.
He also noted the management team at Heartland Bank in Leawood, Kansas, working closely with
Mercantile Bancorp management, has generated consecutive quarter improvements in net interest
margin in 2009. Mercantile has a 56% controlling interest in Heartlands parent corporation,
Mid-America Bancorp, Inc. Awerkamp explained Heartland has been aggressive in reserving for
potential losses and in working to
liquidate their problem assets, and expects to have narrowed its net loss in the third quarter of
2009 compared with the third quarter of 2008. For the nine months ended September 30, 2009,
Mercantile Bancorp anticipates recognizing a loss of $1.8 million related to its interest in
Mid-America versus a $2.6 million loss for the same period in 2008.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2009, Mercantile Bancorp expects to report a net loss of
$54.3 million or $(6.24) per share compared with a net loss of $2.1 million or $(0.24) per share in
the first nine months of 2008. A significant portion of the 2009 loss reflects a non-cash goodwill
impairment loss of $44.6 million related to its Royal Palm acquisition, which was recorded in the
second quarter of 2009. Also in the first nine months of 2009, the Company recognized non-cash
impairment charges on its equity investments in other financial institutions of approximately $3.2
million. Expenses during the period include deposit insurance premiums of about $3.1 million
compared with $715,000 in the nine months of 2008. These increased premiums include a special
assessment levied by the FDIC in second quarter 2009.
Net interest income in the nine-month period ended September 30, 2009, was expected to be $32.7
million compared with $32.8 million for the same period in the prior year. Awerkamp explained that
the Companys ability to significantly lower total interest expense was a key factor in maintaining
expected 2009 net interest income at a level expected to be comparable to 2008. Management noted
the Company, on a year-over-year basis, had slightly lower operating costs, including salaries and
benefits, occupancy and equipment expense. Numerous cost and expense management programs were
implemented more than a year ago, and these have helped its subsidiary banks maintain stable
performance in a difficult economy while providing uncompromised levels of service to customers.
About Mercantile Bancorp
Mercantile Bancorp, Inc. is a Quincy, Illinois-based bank holding company with majority-owned
subsidiaries consisting of three banks in Illinois and one each in Missouri, Kansas, and
Florida, where the Company conducts full-service commercial and consumer banking business,
engages in mortgage banking, trust services and asset management, and provides other financial
services and products. The Company also operates a Mercantile Bank branch office in Indiana. In
addition, the Company has minority investments in eight community banks in Missouri, Georgia,
Florida, Colorado, California and Tennessee. Further information is available on the companys
website at www.mercbanx.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release may contain forward-looking statements which reflect the Companys current
views with respect to future events and financial performance. The Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995 (the Act) provides a safe harbor for forward-looking statements that are
identified as such and are accompanied by the identification of important factors that could cause
actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. For these statements, the
Company, together with its subsidiaries, claims the protection afforded by the safe harbor in the
Act. Forward-looking statements are not based on historical information, but rather are related to
future operations, strategies, financial results or other developments. Forward-looking statements
are based on managements expectations as well as certain assumptions and estimates made by, and
information available to, management at the time the statements are made. Those statements are
based on general assumptions and are subject to various risks, uncertainties and other factors that
may cause actual results to differ materially from the views, beliefs and projections expressed in
such statements. These risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to
differ from expectations, are set forth in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2008, and Forms 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2009, June 30, 2009 and
September 30, 2009, as on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and include, among
other factors, the following: general business and economic conditions on both a regional and
national level; fluctuations in real estate values; the level and volatility of the capital
markets, interest rates, and other market indices; changes in consumer and investor confidence in,
and the related impact on, financial markets and institutions; estimates of fair value of certain
Company assets and liabilities; federal and state legislative and regulatory actions; various
monetary and fiscal policies and governmental regulations; changes in accounting standards, rules
and interpretations and their impact on the Companys financial statements. The words believe,
expect, anticipate, project, and similar expressions often signify forward-looking
statements. You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Any
forward-looking statements in this release speak only as of the date of the release, and we do not
assume any obligation to update the forward-looking statements or to update the reasons why actual
results could differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements.